Jura 12 Year

Nose: Sandalwood, cigar-box cedar wood, blackberry jam, pineapple, floral tones and hints of peat smoke. Palate: Sweet arrival with berries, clotted cream, honey and malted milk powder. The development is slow and not very deep with little emerging to add interest other than a fleeting hint of smoke and some sweet cocoa. The texture is good, slightly creamy and silky. Water brings little to the palate other than dilution so take this very approachable whisky neat. Finish: Medium/short. Honey and milk chocolate in the aftertaste. Not a complex profile but a pleasant one. Jura is not a distillery I follow as their expressions can be inconsistent, however recently they do seem to have picked up their game. The nose on this is intriguingly fragrant for a Jura, almost as though there was a mizunara cask in the vatting … no, surely not. Together with some low-key smoke it makes an interesting combination. The palate has a nice balance between salt and sweet flavours and there is a definite sweet sherry cask influence. I enjoyed this one, and just to swim against the popular current I thought it was better than Jura 10. I’m not sure I’d buy a bottle of this but I’d buy a bar pour or accept a free dram anytime. Tasted from a distillery sample. “Good” : 83/100 (3.5 stars)

I have witness how Jura have fallen. Every year the released expressions are weaker, thiner and the whole reputation of this distillery has crashed. This 12yo is one of those cases where a cheap bottle is falling behind in comparison to any other expression of the same age from any other distillery. Bottled at 40%abv, really beautiful reddish color (i don't know if it is colored, but it seems so). On the nose, a thin cigarrette note. Then red fruits, thick caramel, acid prunes. A nice aroma of home made dulce de leche has appeared after a first sip. On the palate, lt is not the best whisky out there. Sulphur and salt; dim chocolare for a second. A little rough, it actually feels like grain whisky. caramel. Aftertaste is almost non-existent. Sawdust and a little salt for a second. That is it. Very short aftertaste. Overall, this wasn't the best whisky i have had, lol. I don't even feel dissapointed at this point, my feelings about Jura are starting to be more like sadness. They have to improve their game, specially considering that they belong to Whyte & Mackay, who are also owners of the marvelous Dalmore. My score for this whisky is a scary 69 over 100.

Had the 10 yr this is very similar. Ive read some people calling out wet pet food on Jura scotch. I can get that along with some sweaty socks. These are not negatives however just impressions not meant to be literal. The outside the box flavor notes help set whiskies apart and in the scotch world the more outrageous the better(to a point) The heavy dose of salt with some coffee grounds and tijuana small cigars rings true. Kinda like someone put out a cigar in some black coffee. There is some malt and sweet notes to offset. The saltiness overshadows the smoke in my current bottle but the boggy peat is strong with this one. Check out my 10 yr review if you want full notes as I cant tell them apart from recollection. I am prepared to say Jura in no way can compete with Ardbeg or laphroaig or other Islay greats so score reduction on the 10 yr. What this is ..is a unique scotch profile if you want something different. Do you put a lot of salt on your food...you'll like this...85/100....after a couple pours(and acclimating to the salty peat) I can pick up the sherry notes which just adds to enjoyment

This bottle feels like your favourite old chair, saggy and stained - out of place and an eye sore according to my wife. Yet we are drawn to it. Is it the comfort? The smell? Or the memories it draws that we enjoy. On the nose: it’s a mixed bag, with roasted berries and honey standing out at first. A second pull bring sea salt with chilli, and some vanilla. An lovely oak note lingers. On the palate; light at first - berries make a small appearance, I detect roasted strawberries followed by a soft smoke note. Honey follows with some chilli, then a touch of pine. The finish starts off light, a breathe of fresh pine followed by the spice. Smoke comes after and lasts around for a while. I’ve never thought much of this bottle, but the fact that it is always on sale has be buying it over and over. This bottle is complex, not necessarily balanced, but does have a lot to offer. Jura 10 year is similar, but the 12 brings in more smoke and spice. Not a knockout for flavour, but this does a great job at being good and interesting. I’ll continue to buy it as the value is competitive.

Nose: The aroma opens with a subtle floral note, reminiscent of wildflowers. There's a pronounced nuttiness, particularly walnuts, accompanied by a slight hint of ripe banana. A touch of coffee and a bit of sea salt add complexity, with a whisper of smoke rounding out the experience. Palate: On the palate, you get a touch of sea salt and the unique flavor of salted ripe banana chips. Dark chocolate pudding and mint provide a rich contrast, while a slight heat from pepper adds a bit of spice. The bittersweet licorice ties everything together. The not so favorite part is the mouthfeel. It is quite thin, neither oily nor viscous. Finish: The finish is medium in length, with a flavor reminiscent of chocolate milk and ending with traces of espresso coffee.

This was my favorite whiskey of the night. We’ve tried 7 different scotches from speyside and highlands, and most of my friends agreed that Jura stood out because of its complexity. Each time I went to the glass I start smelling and tasting different notes. First it was the funky sweetness and honey. Then second time this beautiful citrusy, almost red apple like fruitiness and the brine. Then the 3rd time the dark chocolate & walnut with ash. At 80 proof this surprisingly packs a lot of flavors. Each sip was a different experience. Great for a daily drinker. It goes down very smoothly. This will be one of my go to scotches from now on.